Chapter Fifteen.
Sapphire
Over the next forty-five minutes, the club arrived in dribs and drabs.
Meanwhile, I remained aware that Nun was missing.
Once everyone showed up, I kept Stitch and Belladonna behind and sent the rest out to look for her.
I made them go in pairs, and a member of the stable would accompany most of them.
Although I wanted to be out there, I needed to stay here.
Priest and Blue had already headed out to the crash scene.
I couldn’t be angry at them; if it had been Wylde, I’d have done the same.
I paced back and forth as we waited for word, and an hour had passed before a nurse came out.
“Birdie’s family?” she asked, checking the name twice.
“Yes,” I replied, stepping up.
“You are?”
“Her sister. How is she?”
“Birdie’s confused and has a concussion. She is also going to be very sore, and we’re keeping her in overnight, but she’s okay. You may see her, but two people max.”
“You can make an exception for them,” Wylde uttered, entering the ER. “There are only three of them here.”
I hurried over to him, and he wrapped his arms around me, offering me his strength. “Everybody is out searching, but the SUV disappeared. We’re checking footage now for any images we can drag up of the driver,” Wylde commented.
“We’ve been so careful; this is such a kamikaze move.”
“Nobody could have predicted this,” Wylde soothed, running his hands up and down my back. “Let’s go visit Birdie.”
I nodded. At least one of my sisters was okay.
Three hours later, the door opened as we sat with Birdie; Stitch had given her a quick boost, and she was looking much better. It was the same doctor from the waiting room, and I caught his name this time—Hickson. I knew instantly what Hickson was going to say from his expression.
“Which one?” I croaked out, my throat closing.
“Vengeance. Her wounds are severe, and despite our best efforts, she won’t make it. We’ve made her comfortable; it’s all we can do.”
Wylde clasped my shoulder as I shook my head.
“Take me to her,” Stitch stated, getting up.
“Of course,” Hickson replied.
Stitch turned around. “I’m going to need all of you, including you, detective.”
“Whatever you want, Stitch,” Wylde said.
“Take us to Vengeance. Is there any news on Rose?”
“Rose remains in theatre, and the neurosurgeon is in with her. She’s stable from what I last heard. I’ll escort you to Vengeance,” Hickson offered.
I nodded sharply and grabbed Birdie’s hand. “Will you be okay?”
“I’m fine. Go save Vengeance,” she urged. I squeezed her and followed Hickson and Stitch out.
“We put her in a private room,” Hickson said.
“Good. Stitch is going to need it,” I replied, following him in. Belladonna pulled the blinds and ensured nobody could see.
Hickson frowned.
I gazed at Vengeance lying on the bed. My sister seemed so tiny that it broke my heart.
I choked back a sob. Tubes came from her mouth, helping her to breathe, and she was wired up with cannulas and a catheter.
She had scratches on her arms, and her hands were bandaged.
Vengeance looked nothing like her usual vital self.
The machine monitoring her made me worry because her stats were so low. Vengeance was dying.
“What are you doing?”
“Doc, we’re going to need the room,” I stated.
“No. Explain yourself.”
“Christ, she’s circling the drain. I have to start now, or we’ve lost her. Belladonna, you’re up,” Stitch said with real alarm. Ignoring Hickson, she moved over to the bed and held her hands over Vengeance. They started glowing as Wylde shoved a chair behind Belladonna.
“Please don’t distress her. What is that? What are you doing? Don’t touch her!” Hickson began babbling.
I grabbed his shoulders and turned him to face me. “Stitch is a healer. She can stop Vengeance from dying, and she’s healing her.”
“Psychic healing is bullshit. Back away from my patient.”
“Wylde,” I said and moved closer to the bed. The white, blue light flowed from Stitch’s hands now. It almost covered Vengeance from head to toe. “Pace yourself. You only have us here,” I ordered Stitch. She didn’t reply, and I knew she was in the zone.
“I’ll call the stable back. We will need their energy.”
“I insist—”
“Doc, I get it. People like Stitch are charlatans, and they usually are. Totally agree with you. Stitch is the real thing. You’re here and watching.
Stitch can’t make Vengeance any worse, right?
Vengeance is going to die. What is the harm in letting her try?
Vengeance has no idea what’s happening; she’s oblivious.
You can put a complaint in with my captain if you want, but I have to insist you let Stitch work,” Wylde said.
“Give us an hour, doc. If Vengeance is better, you don’t create a fuss. Nor do you tell anyone what’s happening in here,” I argued.
“This is highly irregular. If that woman is genuine, why doesn’t she help others?” Hickson spat.
“She does. She’s saved loads of lives, but she isn’t a public figure.
Each healing drains Stitch to the point of her own death.
We protect her because she would kill herself to save a child.
If she goes to see someone, she takes at least one sister with her for the power boost. Today, she’s about to drain all of us here for sure, and she may need more.
If Vengeance is going to die, let us try. What will it hurt?” I asked.
Hickson shook his head, his focus on Stitch’s hands. He opened his mouth, and then Stitch separated her hands, and his eyes widened. He could see them now, and there was no fake light she was holding. The glow really emanated from her.
“I’ll contact Cass to bring the others,” I murmured as I squeezed Vengeance’s feet. “Don’t you dare stop fighting, bitch! I’ll follow you to hell and drag you back,” I promised.
Wylde gripped my shoulder in reassurance. “Stitch will save her,” he declared with complete faith.
“Highly irregular,” Hickson muttered, but kept watching.
Priest
“Any updates?” I asked, pulling in alongside Cassidy. Nun had been gone four hours. She could be anywhere.
“Nothing. Hatton just called and said he’s sending a cleaned-up picture of the driver. He’s giving it to the news stations too.” Cassidy’s phone pinged, and he held it up. Blue nearly knocked me out of the SUV as he stared at it.
“No fuckin’ way! Are you certain that person is the kidnapper?”
“Yes,” Cassidy nodded.
“You recognise him?” I asked.
Blue confirmed. “So do you. That’s the guy who was with her family. One of the brothers-in-law!”
I stared again. I hadn’t got a good look at him. “You’re telling me Nun’s relatives are harbouring a serial killer?”
“Yup. If that image is correct, then he has her,” Blue growled out.
“Where do they live?” Cassidy asked, starting his engine.
“They’re from out-of-state. But they had to be staying local,” Blue said.
“Names?” Cassidy insisted.
“Marion and Keith Steelman. I’m unsure about the sisters’ surnames, but they were called Edith, Catherine, and Hillary,” Blue replied.
“How’d you know that?” I demanded.
“I paid attention.”
“…Yes, Keith Steelman, run his card, find out if it’s been used in Portsmouth. We need to track him down in relation to this kidnapping,” Cassidy was saying.
“Calling Cyber would be quicker,” Blue grumbled, pulling out his phone.
“Tell Hatton to get a court order; we need that information,” Cassidy ordered someone.
“Screw that,” Blue muttered. “Cyber, we must find out where Keith Steelman is staying. We might have a lead… yes… no, we’re with Cassidy… no, if we’re wrong then we pull you away… Thanks, can you send that to my phone…? Cheers.” He cut the call.
“They’re lodging at the hotel on Ocean Blvd.”
“Let’s roll,” Cassidy said and pulled out with his sirens blaring. I tucked in behind him and followed him through Portsmouth. Twenty minutes later we parked in the hotel, and Cassidy killed his sirens.
We jumped out of our vehicles and headed inside. “Police. I need to speak to Marion and Keith Steelman,” Cassidy barked, showing his badge.
“What’s going on?” a man demanded, and we turned around and saw Nun’s asshole brother.
“Where’s your brother-in-law?” Cassidy snapped.
“I asked what was wrong,” Charles said, drawing himself up.
“Do you want another ass-kicking?” Blue yelled, and I hauled him away.
Charles stepped back.
“This involves that slut of my sister, doesn’t it? What’s she accusing him of?” Charles drew himself up and crossed his arms.
“Son, what’s happening?” Keith asked, appearing.
“Where is your son-in-law?” Cassidy replied.
“Why?” Keith didn’t want to answer either.
“He’s the suspect in at least five murders, and we must speak to him.”
“No! Liar!” Catherine yelled, coming from what appeared to be a lounge. “Margaret is making it up!”
“Nun was run off the road and kidnapped,” I bit out. “Your perverted, asshole husband was seen.”
“What absolute lies,” Marion stated, appearing.
“Is this your husband?” Cassidy snapped, holding up a phone.
Catherine paled at the image of her husband’s face on it.
He flicked the screen, and it switched to original car footage; it showed the entire accident and the SUV stopping.
Her husband got out, grabbed Nun, carried her to his car, and threw her in the trunk.
Then he gazed directly at the car recording him, smirked, got back in, and drove off.
“That could be anyone!” Keith scoffed.
“That’s not Benjamin!” Catherine exclaimed.
“The picture I showed you was taken when he looked at the camera. I can’t afford to waste time. Nun is in danger, and Benjamin is suspected of being a serial killer. Where the fuck is he?” Cassidy snapped.
“You’re a public servant; you can’t talk to us—”
Stepping forward, I placed my gun against Keith’s head. “I’m done with this shit. I ain’t a cop, and I will fuckin’ end you. The woman I love is in danger, and you’re prancing about and sucking your own cock. Where do we find him?”
“Benjamin went to work! He’s a truck driver!” Catherine yelled.
“Do you have his plates?” Cassidy demanded.
“Arrest this man!” Keith bellowed.